Tom Barry's Opinion of Collins & De Valera: Davy's Podcast - Episode 8

[@patriciayoung569]

Love your Irish history. My father was from Tralee, co Kerry, my mother from from Inver, co donegal. I was born in Brooklyn but was raised with anti English. My dad called the Union Jack the butchers apron. He came to the U S and fought in WW1. I have been to Ireland about 20 times.

[@timoconnor7423]

Tralee the town of a great @ many Republicans like John Joe Sheehy Footballer per excellence @ a great character to entertain

[@donquixote3927]

I was brought up in an Anglo Irish community in England. Teachers, priests, nuns and adults with Irish accents and surnames. They intermarried, across the national and sometimes religious divide and brought up children completely adjusted to life in Britain.

[@salbronson4485]

The best book I've ever read, hands down. Tom Barry has an awful lot to do with us getting our independence

[@NDTommy]

Davy, Great details about Tom Barry! I’d love to see someone make a film about him. What a true Irish Patriot and legend he was. God bless his memory.

[@mustainefan]

I'm an American but I really enjoy Irish history. It's very fascinating to me as well because I have a grandfather from Ireland and he has always told me a lot about the history of Ireland. Excellent video.

[@davyholden]

Thanks so much glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@Shayminn]

2 distant members of my family fought under Tom Barry✊🏻😠☘️🇮🇪

[@seanohare5488]

You must be proud of that

[@Shayminn]

@seanohare5488 extremely because when I found out it told me so much about myself because I tend to be a bit intense in the eyes of many people but I now realize it's because I have Irish Rebel Blood flowing through my veins due to my roots in relation to the struggle run DEEP!!!

[@AnEnemy100]

The passage about close quarters fighting to save ammo rings true. My grandfather who had been a Spanish Republican in the French resistance told me that you don’t hold a hand gun out in front of you but close in to your side, on your hip. Not something to do unless you’re very close to the enemy. This was when I was a kid just playing about so I didn’t ask questions at the time. Makes me think now though.

[@peterkelly1665]

I remember reading Barry's book at school in the 1960's In thinking back on it I wonder how the book could end up in a catholic secondary school in rural Victoria Australia . But then we did have a large number of Irish Priests and brothers on the teaching staff . It was a great book remember the lines how Barry said I returned to cork and never left my guns again

[@44Celt]

Charlie Hurley was my great great uncle- great to hear some stories of him in Tom Barrys book

[@jonnypostman]

Rip

[@bouse23]

Tom barry had a story about how he went to Dublin and met collins. They were travelling by taxi in Dublin . When they ran into a checkpoint collins (the most wanted man in the world at the time) told Tom Barry to pretend they were drunk.the british soldiers soon got tired of dealing with 2 drunks and sent them on their way. But Tom Barry reckoned in west cork they would have been shot in the same situation.

[@Bob-us9di]

Indeed, as you say, it's one of the best stories in Tom Barry's memoirs and gives a unique insight into the difficulties experienced by the men and women of the early republic. It's good to hear it told and it's one of the more remarkable episodes of the war. It would be great to turn this into a 30 min (or so) documentary complete with photographs and video of the places mentioned in his account.

[@timoconnor7423]

Tom remained a Republican to the end @ instructed his great friend Donncada O Murchu that he wanted a private buriel as he did not want politicians to hijack it.That was done.He also gave talks to vols from Belfast during the 70 s

[@sandidavis820]

A very interesting bit of history of our beautiful Ireland. Once again I have to say "thank you, Davy"

[@davyholden]

Thank you 😊

[@paddyearly]

Superb video✅🇨🇮

[@dancronin826]

I'm so excited for this , I didn't know he had thoughts on them

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

Tom was full of ideas

[@carthy29]

Great clip davy keep up to good work , as a Corkman the best book i have read by far on that time in Cork is " The year of disappearances, political killings in Cork 1921 - 1922 " by Gerard Murphy, an excellent read, i highly recommend it to everyone

[@Jen999]

Will be there.. am learning much of Irish history from you.. much appreciated this is🌹☘️ Jen999💙

[@davyholden]

Thank you so much!!

[@Jen999]

Cead mile failte ☘⚘

[@mocharakelly1091]

Brilliant Davy well done, you need to be on TV, I think RTE would take a fit at you telling the truth of our Country but you will get better and have a TV programme, I like the way you mention the 6 Counties as you said we are the real Irish from Ulster. Beir búa.

[@Jen999]

@@mocharakelly1091 Sure We are he will be soon🌹☘️💜💙🌟

[@peterallison-ex4yy]

Amazing as always and such details . Thank you so much Davy. Loved this 💚☘🇮🇪

[@davyholden]

Thank you so much!

[@SectionSixteen]

Great, great podcast. My favorite so far! You are a wonderful story-teller. I love the brisk pace of your narration. So much imparted so quickly. Loved the humanizing details about the men's personalities. ☘️

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Thanks mate. My dad`s ancestors come from Newmarket in Cork

[@timoconnor7423]

Would you by any chance be related to Paddy McCaulife T D @ old I R A vet great friend of my father even though they went different was after 😊

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Don`t know mate buy i`d love to be. I`ll try and find out@@timoconnor7423

[@johnroche7541]

A couple of things that should have been mentioned here was that on the morning(25th May 1921)Tom Barry left Dublin was the same day as one of the IRA's biggest operations in the conflict which was the destruction of the Customs House in Dublin. Also when Tom Barry got back to Cork he was held up by a big British serach operation and he came face to face with an arch nemesis of the Cork IRA which was Major Arthur Percival of the 1st Bn Essex Regiment. He questioned Barry and later let him go. Percival would be so angry later when he realised who he let go free. In WW2 Percival as Lt General would surrender Singapore to the Japanese. He is on film wearing khaki tropical uniform including shorts surrendering to the Japanese. The "blackest day in the history of the British Empire" according to Churchill. Percival would be in Tokyo Bay with General Douglas McArthur when the Japanese officially surrendered which is also on film. From a historic point of view the Thompson machine gun made it's military debut in Ireland in the summer of 1921 in Dublin. This fact is never mentioned in books and documentaries dedicated to this iconic weapon. The weapon was supposed to be used in WW1 as it was seen as an ideal weapon for trench warfare but by the time it came into mass production the war had ended. It's use by the IRA as I stated earlier is never mentioned. The IRA were the first to use it in actual combat. The IRA used a Thompson machine in Dublin in June 1921 in an attack on a troop train which was carrying solders from the West Kent Regiment who literally had arrived in Ireland only half an hour. One soldier was killed(Pte Saunders) in the attack from fragments of a grenade blast. The British officer in charge of the West Kents erroneously thought his regiment was deliberately attacked as they were just half an hour in Ireland and new to the conflict. It is just pure coincidence that the IRA attacked this regiment. They were simply attacking a troop train.They the West Kents had arrived from Upper Silesia. The Thompson sub machine gun is associated with Chicago gangsters but it was the IRA who fired it first in an actual conflict and the first to use it in combat. The 500 Thompsons that were purchased never made it to Ireland initally as they were discovered by American officials at Hobooken New Jersey. A couple were smuggled into Ireland in the summer of 1921. I had the pleasure of firing a Thompson and they would have been ideal in the CQB(Close Quarter Battle) tactics of the IRA during the Irish War of Independence. They were more prevalent in the Irish Civil War but their potential were never exploited. One could understand Barry's frustration with the Dublin IRA's procedure but they were operating in an urban environment and their actions had to be quick. The urban guerillas had to blend into the metropolitan background.

[@ThunderboltWisdom]

Great info. I wonder how different things would have been if those 500 Tommy guns got to Ireland.

[@derekstynes9631]

There was a photo of Winston Churchill Brandishing a Thompson with a Cigar clenched in His Mouth and the German Propagandists used it to claim that He was a Gangster like Al Capone during the second world war .

[@Dublinireland5]

Many people in England played a part in fundraising etc for the Irish Republic army mainly around Irish clubs etc the money went back to Ireland for the cause and independence of a free and independent ireland

[@timoconnor7423]

True

[@PompeyBoy66]

Ulster sad no

[@mikedavis-kp1sx]

I knew an old boy years ago who did it. Believe me every penny went back home.

[@ciansmith4881]

Recently read Guerrilla days in Ireland. This was a great rendition of that journey 👏

[@STEVIEBHOY]

Dick Mulcahy was my great grandfather Captain Joseph Patrick Billings' best friend 👌💯🇮🇪

[@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cg]

What I found most interesting was that Tom waited 50 year's to write his book!

[@cd87104]

cheers davy. great storytelling boyo

[@davyholden]

Thank you!

[@Travers-kx4zk]

I read Toms book,was funny when he and Michael Collins fought

[@arctrader]

Great story telling. Thank you sir.

[@davyholden]

Thank you!

[@davidneylon4638]

Amazing perspective. Brilliant video. Thank you so much. ❤️

[@patrickdugan2929]

Excellent retelling of Tom.Barry and his personal experience s. Julie Kavanaughs ' The Irish Assassins' ,.which you're probably familiar with is a recent and well researched book.that starts off in Donegal. Tom Barry's book is a top 5 keeper.

[@ko6el]

My great grandad was from Fermoy Co Cork 😊

[@eamonnmc1]

Great stuff!! Gorilla days in Ireland a great book

[@seanohare5488]

I agree

[@johnroche7541]

It "Guerilla Day's in Ireland " is an excellent account of an IRA units(3rd West Cork Brigade Flying Column) experience in the conflict. However Tom Barry was at times economic with the truth and so his devout biographer Meda Ryan. Barry exaggerates his conversion to Republicanism. When Barry came home to Ireland his actions were not those of a man who found Irish nationalism. For example he failed a British Civil Service exam for a position in the Colonial Office in India. If he passed he would not becone the best IRA Field Commander in the conflict and look how history would have changed!He never mentions this in his memoir and neither does Meda Ryan. I have researched this conflict for over 20 years and also Tom Barry. My grandfather served with the Royal Munster Fusiliers in WW1 and then joined the IRA during the Irish War of Independence and served in Munster in both the War of Independence and Civil War. It is no coincidence that the best IRA units had Irish Great War veterans in the ranks and some of the biggest IRA victories were either planned by an IRA veteran of WW1 or they played a crucial role in their success. Check out the following ambushes for example : Touteen,Kilmichael,Clonfin,Ballyvourney,Dromkeen,Headford Junction,Crossbarry and Carrowkennedy. There was 5 IRA men who were awarded for gallantry in WW1 including a VC recipient.

[@williamcannon7262]

Great story, love the details.

[@patrickfoley1018]

Outstanding Davy !!!!!!

[@seanohare5488]

Well said and done big bad Davy Holden keep doing segment s on other underrated IRA leaders like Michael Brennan of east Clare Tom mcellistrim of Kerry Michael Kilroy of Mayo and dinny Lacey of Tipperary

[@davedriscoll1652]

I agree with the liking of rural Cork, my dad spoke of my family's ties to it and also of the 3rd West. Cork Brigade. More Cork history please. ❤ from Nw Iowa.

[@user-hu6vw7bp8e]

Hi Davy, I enjoy all your wonderful podcasts. The one about Newfoundland was particularly interesting. William Keane a hedge schoolmaster was a leader in the Battle of Carrickshock and he emigrated to Newfoundland. I would like to know if he has any descendants living there now. I am also from Kilkenny, North of the city. Liam Burke

[@williammaguire9066]

Brilliant story love it

[@divinedefiance7069]

fascinating! Brilliantly told.

[@derry3344ii]

Brilliant history Dave ❤

[@chad_8110]

That's a cool history

[@Dublinireland5]

The biggest victory was the Grand Hotel in Brighton England where the British government was staying in a Conservative conference... It made the Western world realize that ireland must be listened to 🇮🇪❤️🇮🇪❤️🇮🇪❤️🇮🇪❤️🇮🇪❤️🇮🇪

[@user-yr8jj5ut7z]

Im English and I celebrated because it was the Tories conference

[@Marius_vanderLubbe]

Norman Tebbitt would be reminded of the Irish cause every day he nursed his wife. What a great pity it didn't get the supreme witch.

[@nigefal]

It was just another in a long line of PIRA failures. Thatcher came out completely unscathed, her popularity among the British electorate sky rocketed as a result. And as usual any Irish living in England had to suffer the shame/consequences.

[@timoconnor7423]

Some of those that I know suffered the consequences but not the shame​@@nigefal

[@FromaTwistedMind]

My father & l celebrated when we heard of the bombing, but we were gutted that the old Witch of the West was still alive. I'm British, my Mums family are Irish.

[@gerthie]

Brilliant

[@nigefal]

Makes no sense that the Barry’s name and rank was written on that suit.

[@sisi2484]

Like Belfast and South Armagh in more recent times.

[@blackdeeplake]

I wonder what tom would say about the irish government today sorry tom your death was in vain....all their deaths were in vain....RIP

[@Dublinireland5]

In England there was many Victorys for the love and freedom of Ireland which only could have been done in England

[@billygray6757]

People call Collins a traitor what about the good Friday agreement sinn Fein made a treaty whith the British

[@mikki3562]

Why would De Valera ask Tom Barry to travel to Dublin, if he knew the risk involved?

[@MollyLee9688]

Ireland needs another Michael Collins & Tom Barry at the moment. We don't need another Eamon, sure there is enough like him in government. Eamon was president & Taoiseach of lreland he could have banned English in the schools. There was enough time that we be all speaking Gaelic now. The difference between Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera was lreland was Michael heart & honour & to Eamon lreland was his pockets & had no honour with his big fine houses & lovely suits. Well any Americans reading this nobody goes near Eamon de Valera grave! where his secretary of 30 years was buried right next to him and his wife??. While Michael grave is filled with fresh flowers every week from people all over the world. That alone screams volumes about what these 2 men were about. Rest well Lads 🍀🌹

[@mikedavis-kp1sx]

I have always thought that Micheal Collins was set up.

[@pija9505]

Ghq had something that poor old barry didnt.. tunnels.. lots of them.

[@user-iq4kl8wi7p]

In every stereotype there is a kernel of logos

[@ainebusby4526]

Where they not able to smuggle in arms from abroad?

[@johnroche7541]

Ireland is an island and was patrolled by the Royal Navy. The IRA had a trickle of guns being smuggled from the UK. However the vast majority of the IRA arsenal was "Contraband of War" which meant they captured it from the British. There was no countries willing to help Ireland militarily no matter how sympathetic they were to Ireland.

[@peteraldridge5210]

A bit silly writing his name in it

[@mjp8278]

Of course develera listened intently, develera said your very optimistic 5 years tom,wasn't he relaying everything back to the British, would you ever get grip.

[@jamesmaccarthy9617]

Pronounced Caw-Rah

[@mickeencrua]

What is pronounced "Caw-Rah" ?

[@paulcrawley5687]

dev was a coward by not signing like all leaders , but what you expect he was a yank

[@paulnolan4464]

Collins failed Ireland

[@olieahern1318]

Collins was the backbone of the tan war and rightfully should be recognised for it but he done the dirty work of Churchill by fighting against his once loyal soldiers like Barry in a very sad and bitter civil war to me Collins became a tool in Britains long dirty war that lasted for decades after in Ireland in which he sadly paid dearly for it.

[@johnboylan3591]

You're talking bollocks

[@olieahern1318]

​​@@johnboylan3591in what way am I talking bollox the fact is that Collins did give in to the British with either you attack or we unleash a terrible war on the Irish people it is the old British tattic of divide and conquer and they succeeded in dividing the Irish people even up to the present day and with a heavy price to our people.

[@seanohare5488]

But going to London for talks after develra had been there earlier was already a done deal Collins did everything well in everything he did devalera vaccinated greatly

[@mjp8278]

Tool,develera was the cause civil war,mulcahy dalton blew up four courts. Plank

[@olieahern1318]

​@@mjp8278at Collins order

[@patob4868]

I wonder what Tom Barry and his old comrades would do with the politicians in the dail today

[@HIERONYMAS]

Brilliant